PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME

• US 20110248839A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: TONG, Kuo-Feng, KWOK, Jordanna, GRANT, Christopher James
• Application Number:
  US12/756,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248839A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A method includes detecting a touch at a touch location on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, identifying a first threshold value associated with the touch location, comparing the first threshold value to a force value related to the touch, and providing a first tactile feedback in response to determining that the force value meets the first threshold value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a touch at a touch location on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

identifying a first threshold value associated with the touch location;

comparing the first threshold value to a force value related to the touch;

providing first tactile feedback in response to determining that the force value meets the first threshold value.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining the force value prior to providing tactile feedback.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising repeatedly determining the force value.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising identifying a second threshold value associated with the touch location.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising comparing the force value to the second threshold after providing the first tactile feedback.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising providing a second tactile feedback when the force meets the second threshold value.

7. The method according to claim 5, comprising performing a function associated with the touch location in response to determining that the force value meets the second threshold value.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising displaying information on the touch-sensitive display prior to detecting the touch.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold value is associated with an area of the touch-sensitive display, which area is associated with displayed information.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising performing a function associated with the touch location in response to determining that the force value meets the first threshold value.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first tactile feedback is provided utilizing an actuator arranged and constructed to impart a force on the touch-sensitive display.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first tactile feedback comprises simulation of depression of a switch.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 1.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to detect a touch at a touch location;

an actuator arranged and constructed to provide a first tactile feedback utilizing the touch-sensitive display;

a force sensor configured to determine a force value related to the touch;

at least one processor operably connected to the touch-sensitive display, the actuator and the force sensor and configured to identify a first threshold value associated with the touch location, compare the first threshold value to the force value, and actuate the actuator to provide first tactile feedback in response to determining that the force value meets the first threshold value.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14, comprising memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and having stored thereon, the first threshold value associated with the touch location.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the first threshold value is stored, in association with the touch location, in a look-up table.

17. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator.

18. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of piezoelectric actuators.